Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-03-01
A CHATTY LETTER
FROM THE ABLE PEN OF Mr.. PHILLIP
HENRY MOORE.
The Steel Tempsrng Problsm-Why the De,
velOpment Of West Virginia Has Been
Rstardsd-Etc, Bic.

Mr.. Phillip Henry Moore, "COld Short, "
has very interesting letter in the current
number of the Age af Steel. From it we
CLEAN the following nuggets:
Hardly a week passes that some news
paper does not herald some new and start
ling development in the manufacture OF
steel or its treatment. Generally these
discoveries die a bornin', or they are too
complex and costly to be practicable. Last
summer some shrewd manipulation of the
credibility and confidence of the manu-
featuring world offered mixture, or 4 re-
ceipt for making one, in Wheeling, which
he claimed revOlutionized the whole steel
tempering process. He disappeared pend
ing the settlement of some disagree
ment as To price and conditions between
him and one of the factories, and that was
the last of him in that locality. This
pseudo discoyerer practiced on some iron
and low steel materials with his mixtures
and seemingly produced temper some
thing akin to Mushet steel, but believe il
was only case hardening with some Ordi-
nary material. The development of steel
has been comparatively rapid during the
last twenty years, but clear intelligence
of its qualities, capabilities and possible
ties has not been satisfactorily acquired. In
fact it is generally conceded, that our
knowledge of this great material is so far
only rudimentary.
Labor at the Laughlin & Junction
Steel Plant, in its manuevering, has
brought about a fight between the Anal
gamated Association and the Knights of
| 4 81 10
when the trouble is confined to its own
ranks and organizations, is to he depre-
Gated. There is no element that requires
peace and quiet so vitality as labor in order
that it may thrive. DisQuietiug in
fuences demoralize labor and dis
tract its attention from legitimate
Occupations from which it derives
support and maintenance, and this in turn
works injury to the capital and enterprise
which gives it employment. Contest be-
tween labor organizations is no more to be
desired than between capital and labor.
SO far as labor is concerned, it has dem
0nstrated beyond peradVenture its in
ability to cOerce Capital-in the late New
York strike the usual result has been
realized by them--that their last cOndi
ton is far worse than the first, for most OF
them are ont OF employment. There is an
unanswerable argument in this, the usual
aftermath of strike ehullitiOns, which
should appeal with force to intelligent
wage earners."
"West Virginia and localities in Penn
sylvania, through which the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad passes ale more vitality
interested in the Interstate Commerce
bill than is apparent to the cursOry reader
The arbitrary discrimination in freight
rates enforced against intermediate points
by this company, has positively inhibited
the development of exceptionally valuable
mineral resources in these States, especial
ly in West Virginia, in whose territory,
directly on or closely prOximatc TO the
lines of this road, exceedingly rich coal de-
posits exist. High freight charges have
restricted the development of this mineral
wealth, and practically impeded the pro-
greSs Ofthe State towards the att4inments
OF her proper position, which should he in
the van among the mineral producing
States of the country"
Wonder is frequently expressed that
West Virginia makes such slow progress,
especially when her citizens and well-wish-
erS exploit her claims and resources so vol
ubly. have attempted to throw little
light on this subject. Alabama has had
no such restraining influences 10 contend
with, and with mineral resources and
wealth, far from equal to those of West
Virginia, she is forging ahead rapidly"
Mails are not only holding their own
but are apprcciating in value. With but
two exceptions the Wheeling factories are
idle, and stocks in both first and second
hands are very light. With high priced
aud still advancing raw materials nail
manufacturers have no very enticing fu-
ture before them. The steel end is not so
seductive rs it has been, either; high-priced
BeSsemer pig is shcaring OF some oi those
margins